TEASER
ACT 1, SCENE 1, INT: CITY HALL – EARLY EVENING
Dolly down office hallway that is closing down for the work day. OMAR BUTLER walks out from his office carrying his lapel. Follow OMAR as he waves good night to other staffers.
OMAR:
Heading home, Jen?
JEN, older woman, secretary.
JEN:
Just try and stop me.
OMAR:
So no to me handing you this HR request form?
JEN:
Do it and you’ll need to get used to having a stub for fingers.
OMAR:
Ouch. A simple no would’ve worked.
CUT TO ACT 1, SCENE 2 INT: CITY HALL LOBBY – SAME DAY
SECURITY GUARDS are lazily scanning those leaving for the night. Where one of them sits the setting sunlight from the glass doors strikes his face.
ACT 1, SCENE 3 INT: CITY HALL – OFFICE – CONT’D
OMAR nods towards the direction of MAYOR GEORGE APOSTOLOU’S OFFICE.
OMAR:
Why’s he still here?
JEN:
He cancelled his ride. After the redevelopment meeting, he said he might need to stay late.
OMAR looks concerned.
OMAR:
Thanks Jen. Have a good night.
OMAR walks towards the office door. He knocks.
OMAR:
George?
ACT 1, SCENE 4 INT: LOBBY – CONT’D
SECURITY GUARD’S sunlit face is eclipsed by a shadow. He turns to see what’s going on. He’s shocked.
C.U. of a veiny hand reaching for the lobby door and opening it.
ACT 1, SCENE 5 INT: MAYOR’S OFFICE – CONT’D
OMAR enters the MAYOR’S OFFICE.
MAYOR is at his desk typing.
OMAR:
I hope you’re not pulling one of your famous late-nighters.
MAYOR stops typing and smiles at OMAR.
MAYOR:
Actually, I’m working on a draft for the state of the union. After zombie teen apocalypses and girls being used as pin cushions, I’m feeling very positive.
OMAR:
So positive that you’re staying here late? By yourself?
MAYOR
Don’t worry. My head’s been free of junk for a while. I didn’t think I could ever feel this focused again.
OMAR:
I’m glad. Remember: Just take it a day at a time.
MAYOR:
Or I can just tame my temptations.
OMAR:
What is that? An AA slogan? It’s a horrible.
MAYOR:
It’s not. I made it up. I’m a lion tamer, Omar. I know when to walk in and out the lion’s den.
OMAR:
When the lions come after you, then you call me.
MAYOR:(laughing)
Or I grab a shot gun. I don’t need you to run this city. I know several ways to skin a cat. You’re just one of the ways.
OMAR rolls his eyes.
ACT 1, SCENE 6 INT: LOBBY – CONT’D
SECURITY GUARD 1 quickly comes from around his desk to stop a mob of people trying to make their way in. The mob is led by REV JOE MAC. He is anchored by SISTER NETTA.
People are walking past the GUARD and beeping through the metal detectors without stopping.
SECURITY GUARD 1:
STOP! Y’all can’t be here!
SECURITY GUARD 1 gets in front of REV JOE MAC.
GUARD 1:
Call them back, Rev.
REV:
I can’t call back the flock. They’re here to do God’s work.
GUARD 1:
What work?
REV:
We have business with the Mayor.
GUARD 1:
But the office is closed for the day.
REV:
When a path isn’t clear, God steps in and parts Heaven and Earth to make a way.
Some of the MOB is getting on the elevators, while office workers look on stunned.
GUARD 2 quickly picks up a desk phone.
INTERCUT WITH LOBBY AND OFFICE – CONT’D
JEN is about to leave when her phone rings. She looks at the caller id and angrily picks it up.
JEN:
This better not get between me and my chardonnay.
GUARD 2:
We have a problem.
ACT 1, SCENE 7 INT: LOBBY – CONT’D
GUARD 1 grabs REV’s wrist as if to arrest him.
GUARD 1:
I can’t let you do this. You’re trespassing.
SISTER:
Let him go. We’re within our right to peaceful protest.
REV:
Relax Sister. I got this. Let us pass, brother.
GUARD 1:
Can’t. I could lose my job.
C.U. as REV lays his hand on top of GUARD 1’S HAND. THE VEINS engorge!
REV:
Brother, your only job is to let us go upstairs unobstructed and see the Mayor.
GUARD ONE is dazed, lets REV go, and steps out of his way.
REV:
After you, Sister.
As SISTER AND REV make their way to the elevators…
GUARD 2:
(to GUARD 1) What the hell are you doing?! (to the phone) They’re coming upstairs.
GUARD 1 suddenly walks over to GUARD 2’s station, pushes down the receiver ending the call and then punches GUARD 2 out.
ACT 1, SCENE 8 INT: MAYOR’S OFFICE
JEN burst through the door.
JEN:
There’s a mob coming this way!
MAYOR:
Mob?
JEN:
It’s that celebrity Reverend. Joe Mac.
MAYOR shots OMAR a dirty look.
MAYOR:
The hell does he want here?
OMAR:
I don’t know.
MAYOR:
Shit. Can we go through the back?
ACT 1, SCENE 9 INT: OFFICE – ELEVATOR
As the elevator doors open, REV MAC continues to leads the mob down the hall. People scurry out of their way.
SISTER:
Brick by brick! Brick by brick!
SISTER starts the chant that the others pick up and it gets louder and louder.
ACT 1, SCENE 10 INT: MAYOR’S OFFICE
The chanting is heard from down the hall and OMAR, JEN and the MAYOR look defeated.
JEN:
Should I call the police?
OMAR:
And have the headlines read ‘Mayor Arrests Church Folks’?
Hold on MAYOR’S face as his jaw tightens and his face hardens.
MAYOR:
Bring’um on.
The MOB enters and nearly fills the office.
OMAR quickly pulls SISTER close.
OMAR:
What are you doing?
SISTER:
Taking action.
OMAR:
Why didn’t you call me?
SISTER gently touches his face and winks.
SISTER:
Surprise.
The chants eventually die down when REV and MAYOR are face to face.
SISTER:
Round 1. Ding. Ding.
REV wants to shake the MAYOR’S hand, but the MAYOR refuses.
MAYOR:
You caught me on my way out, Reverend. Omar would’ve gladly scheduled an appointment.
REV:
Why wait when lives are at stake?
MAYOR:
This meeting can’t continue like this. There aren’t enough seats. Let’s reschedule. Jen, what’s my availability?
REV:(to the mob)
He’s turning his back on the very community he serves. Tell your friends and neighbors to cast their votes against him in the next election. Maybe his competitors will be more kind.
MAYOR turns back around.
MAYOR:
What’s this all about?
REV:
Now you have the time to give us your attention?
MAYOR:
Speak now or forever hold your peace.
REV:
Just like the Devil to twist the Word. I know men like you. You were once those boys that spat on me as I walked to school. You pissed on my head and rolled me down hills and laughed all while you were doing it. You made mine and my family’s business so difficult to maintain with all your hoops and bureaucracy.
MAYOR is growing furious. OMAR jumps in, but MAYOR raises his hand to stop him from speaking.
MAYOR:
Just say what you came here to say, Reverend.
REV:
We as representatives of the Bricks want to talk to you about what you’re doing to our city. We’ve seen these towers built by those that mean to price us out. Your name is on those buildings. Now your urban redevelopment coalition is ready to do it again in the very heart of the Bricks. When one building erupts, you break ground on condos. Is that it?
MAYOR:
With all due respect, that’s an outright fabrication of the facts. I…
REV:
We demand back control of our city. We get to choose what gets built, or your resignation.
MAYOR is trembling with rage.
CUT TO BLACK
END OF TEASER
END OF ACT 1